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Jarrod Sammut and Luke Gale guided Bradford Bulls safely into the fifth round of the Tetley's Challenge Cup with a comprehensive 70-10 win at Rochdale Hornets.

The experienced halfbacks crossed twice and had a hand in most of the Bulls' 12 tries, while young back rower Elliot Whitehead also grabbed a second-half hat-trick in an accomplished display.

Australian Sammut finished with 26 points and played most of the game at fullback after replacing an injured Jamie Foster - the only concern on a largely comfortable afternoon for Bradford coach Francis Cummins.

Championship One side Rochdale - 27 league places below their opponents - stuck to their task well and were rewarded with tries to winger Dave Sutton and prop John Cookson.

Cummins handed Bradford debuts to loan forward Ben Evans and young winger Sam Wood, and it took the latter less than three minutes to open his try-scoring account. After Sammut's kick had been fumbled by Steve Roper, Adrian Purtell sent Wood over out wide.

Six minutes later, Gale's inside pass sent Jamie Langley over from close range, and Jamie Foster tagged on his second conversion for 12-0.

Foster was then withdrawn through injury, but Bradford continued to dominate. Gale forced his way over from dummy half after Chev Walker had gone close, and the pair then swapped roles as Gale put Walker in for 24-0, Sammut having taken over the kicking duties.

Response

Rochdale responded four minutes before the break when winger Sutton, who had already gone close, picked up a loose ball from Paul Crook's kick to touch down.

Crook added the extras to close the gap to 18 points - but the Bulls struck again just before the break when Sammut sliced over from a scrum and converted himself for a 30-6 lead at half-time.

It signalled the start of one-way traffic in the third quarter. Gale stepped over from close range, before Sammut's pass put John Bateman over in the next set of six.

Second rower Whitehead then scored a quick-fire double - first supporting a Purtell interception, and then taking a smart Heath L'Estrange pass.

Rochdale eventually responded in the 64th minute, as Cookson powered over after Chris Hough had been stopped just short.

But Bradford finished the stronger, with Sammut taking a kick downfield inside his own half and racing 60 metres for the best try of the afternoon, Whitehead completing his treble and Michael Platt scoring in the last minute against his former club.